Method for selecting consensus node using nonce and method and apparatus for generating blockchain using the same

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein is a method for generating a blockchain, which includes selecting, by a first master node that generated a first block, second candidate nodes from a node pool according to a consensus node selection scheme using a nonce, and selecting, by the first master node, a second master node using the result of a vote taken by first candidate nodes. Here, among candidate blocks generated by the second candidate nodes, the candidate block generated by the second master node is locked as a second block.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/389,620, filed Apr. 19, 2019 and claims the benefit of Korean PatentApplication No. 10-2018-0045705, filed Apr. 19, 2018, and No.10-2019-0037604, filed Apr. 1, 2019, which are hereby incorporated byreference in their entirety into this application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to a method for selecting consensus nodesusing a nonce and an apparatus and method for generating a blockchainusing the same.

2. Description of the Related Art

Generally, a blockchain, which is a kind of distributed database, uses aPeer-to-Peer (P2P) network. Such a distributed database is technologythat enables many users to share a large-scale database by physicallydistributing data. The blockchain constructs a P2P network betweencryptocurrency users that are connected over the Internet. Here,cryptocurrency transaction records are stored in the computer of a user.Among the cryptocurrency transaction records, transaction records thatmatch the data of the majority of the users are confirmed as legitimateledger entries and collected and stored as a block. If an error, such asomission or the like, is found in the ledger of a certain user, theerror is corrected by copying a normal ledger and replacing the ledgerhaving the error with the copied ledger. A process is repeated in which,whenever a block containing a new transaction record is generated, theblock is attached to the previous block. The name ‘blockchain’ comesfrom the transaction records (blocks), which are chained. When atransaction takes place, the details of the transaction owned by therespective users are compared. Accordingly, whether the transaction isauthentic is checked, whereby data may be prevented from being forged.The larger the number of users that share data therebetween, the moresecure the blockchain. A blockchain may be used in various onlineservices, such as cloud-computing services and the like, as well as inbitcoin.

In the case of a private blockchain, blocks are maintained throughdistributed consensus between some authorized nodes. Through delegationof authority, a greater number of transactions may be processed comparedto the case in which a public blockchain is used, but it is problematicin that the advantages of the public blockchain are lost. Accordingly, anew consensus algorithm applicable in common to a public blockchain anda private blockchain is required.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatusin which, among all nodes allowed to participate in distributedconsensus, only some of them participate in consensus.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method andapparatus for selecting subjects of distributed consensus, in whichresource consumption is minimized by allowing only some nodes toparticipate in generating blocks, in which the nodes to obtainpermissions to generate blocks are selected in an unpredictable mannerwhile ensuring that more than a certain number of consensus nodes, whichprobabilistically represent all of the nodes, are selected, and in whicha fork is prevented from being formed in a blockchain.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a method andapparatus for generating a blockchain, which prevents a ledger frombeing arbitrarily altered after a block is locked and which isapplicable to both a public blockchain and a private blockchain.

A method for generating a blockchain according to an embodiment of thepresent invention may include selecting, by a first master node thatgenerated a first block, second candidate nodes from a node poolaccording to a consensus node selection scheme using a nonce;generating, by each of the selected second candidate nodes, a secondcandidate block; and selecting, by the first master node, a secondmaster node from among the second candidate nodes based on the result ofa vote for the generated second candidate blocks, which is taken byfirst candidate nodes, wherein a candidate block generated by the secondmaster node may be locked as a second block.

In an embodiment, the nonce may be generated using the head hash valueof the block generated by the first master node and a unique valuepossessed by each node.

In an embodiment, the unique value may be a private key or a valueacquired from a nonce chain.

In an embodiment, the nonce may use the whole or a portion of a valueacquired by hashing the hash value of the block generated by the firstmaster node and the private key of a corresponding node or a valueacquired from the nonce chain of the corresponding node.

In an embodiment, selecting the second candidate nodes may includecomparing a coupon, which is at least a portion of the head hash value,with a threshold value.

In an embodiment, selecting the second candidate nodes may furtherinclude calculating a distance corresponding to the result of comparisonof the coupon with the threshold value.

In an embodiment, each of the second candidate nodes may record thedistance corresponding thereto and a digital signature for checkingwhether the distance is legitimately issued in a candidate block andtransmit the candidate block to another node, or each of the secondcandidate nodes may perform a checking process through a nonce chain inorder to check the distance corresponding to the node and whether thedistance is legitimately issued.

In an embodiment, the method may further include announcing, by each ofthe second candidate nodes, the coupon and the calculated distance tothe node pool or the first candidate nodes.

In an embodiment, each of the first candidate nodes may sort the secondcandidate nodes based on the result of sorting the calculated distances.

In an embodiment, each of the first candidate nodes may transmit thecollected distances of the second candidate nodes to the first masternode.

In an embodiment, the number of second candidate nodes may be used as apopulation parameter of the vote taken by the first candidate nodes.

In an embodiment, the distance values of the second candidate nodes maybe used in the vote taken by the first candidate nodes.

In an embodiment, in order to use the consensus node selection scheme asa private consensus mechanism, a node that is selected as a node togenerate a candidate block may be shared through the node pool, andpredetermined nodes may be registered in the node pool.

In an embodiment, in order to use the consensus node selection scheme asa public consensus mechanism, all of participation nodes are allowed toparticipate in the node pool.

A method for selecting a consensus node that is used to generate ablockchain according to an embodiment of the present invention mayinclude performing a hash operation by taking the hash value of aprevious block and a digital signature signed with the private key of aparticipation node or a value acquired from a nonce chain as input;comparing a coupon, which is configured with at least a portion of theresult of the hash operation, with a threshold value; and selecting theparticipation node as a candidate node for generating a block based onthe result of comparison.

In an embodiment, a node pool may be predetermined or may include allnodes.

In an embodiment, a node pool may be classified into two or more groupsbased on the result of comparison.

In an embodiment, the two or more groups may include a pass group and afail group, and the pass group and the fail group may have a binomialdistribution characteristic.

In an embodiment, the mean and the variance of nodes to be selected maybe calculated according to a specific probability distribution.

An apparatus for generating a blockchain according to an embodiment ofthe present invention may include at least one processor; and memoryconfigured to store at least one instruction executed by the at leastone processor, wherein the at least one instruction may be executed bythe at least one processor such that the hash value of a block generatedby a first master node is calculated, such that second candidate nodesare selected using the result of hashing a value acquired by digitallysigning the calculated hash value or a result of hashing the hash valueof the block generated by the first master node and a value acquiredfrom a nonce chain, such that the selected candidate nodes take a votein order to lock a second master block, among second candidate blocks,and such that the first master node locks the second master block.

In an embodiment, based on the result of the vote by the nodes thatgenerated the second candidate blocks, the first master node may lock asecond candidate block that presents a minimum or maximum distanceapproved by more than a certain percentage of the nodes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will be more clearly understood from the following detaileddescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a flowchart that shows a method for selecting consensus nodesaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view that conceptually shows the operation of a distributedconsensus algorithm according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart that shows a method for generating a blockchainaccording to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a view that shows an apparatus for generating a blockchainaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will be described in detail below with referenceto the accompanying drawings so that those having ordinary knowledge inthe technical field to which the present invention pertains can easilypractice the present invention.

Because the present invention may be variously changed and may havevarious embodiments, specific embodiments will be described in detailbelow with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, it should beunderstood that those embodiments are not intended to limit the presentinvention to specific disclosure forms and that they include allchanges, equivalents or modifications included in the spirit and scopeof the present invention. It will be understood that, although the terms“first,” “second,” etc. may be used herein to describe various elements,these elements are not intended to be limited by these terms.

These terms are only used to distinguish one element from anotherelement. For example, a first element could be referred to as a secondelement without departing from the scope of rights of the presentinvention. Similarly, a second element could also be referred to as afirst element. It will be understood that when an element is referred toas being “connected” or “coupled” to another element, it can be directlyconnected or coupled to the other element, or intervening elements maybe present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being“directly connected” or “directly coupled” to another element, there areno intervening elements present.

Also, terms used herein are merely used to describe specificembodiments, and are not intended to limit the present invention. Asingular expression includes a plural expression unless a description tothe contrary is specifically pointed out in context.

In the present specification, it should be understood that terms such as“include” or “have” are merely intended to indicate that features,numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereofare present, and are not intended to exclude the possibility that one ormore other features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, orcombinations thereof will be present or added. Unless differentlydefined, all terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms,have the same meanings as terms generally understood by those skilled inthe art to which the present invention pertains. Terms identical tothose defined in generally used dictionaries should be interpreted ashaving meanings identical to contextual meanings of the related art, andare not to be interpreted as having ideal or excessively formal meaningsunless they are definitively defined in the present specification.

Generally, as distributed consensus algorithms, there are Proof-of-Work(PoW), Proof-of-Stake (PoS), and the like. PoW is a consensus algorithmemployed by bitcoin, which is the first blockchain application. PoS is aconsensus algorithm that is adopted by more and more public blockchainsthese days.

First, the concept and characteristics of Proof-of-Work (PoW) will bedescribed below. For the convenience of description, a description willbe made only with respect to bitcoin. PoW is a method in which a nodeproves itself by showing that the node invests its resources (e.g.,computing power) in “work”, thereby preventing illegality. In order toparticipate in consensus based on PoW, participation nodes are requiredto invest their resources. Even in the case of network spam, aDenial-of-Service (DoS) attack, or the like, it is required to investmore than 51% of total resources in order for the attack to succeed. Inorder to generate a block, a unique hash value is required. Here, theunique hash value can be found only by randomly inputting a nonce value.However, because verification of such a hash value is costless, all ofthe participation nodes may easily verify the hash value.

Among the participation nodes, only the first node that found the hashvalue of the next block becomes eligible to generate (or mine) a block.If the cost required for generating a block is close to ‘0’, all of thenodes may easily generate a block and add the same to a blockchain.

When nodes simultaneously generate blocks, the blockchain may fork,whereby multiple chains may be generated. Among the multiple chains, thelongest chain may be selected. In this case, if malicious nodes continueto generate fraudulent blocks, bitcoins may be destroyed. In order toprevent bitcoins from being destroyed, PoW forces the cost forgenerating the next block to be invested in finding a random hash value.Because this work is very costly, it may require running the computersof all of the nodes for about ten minutes in order to succeed. Even ifmalicious nodes attempt to destroy a bitcoin network, their attacks maynot succeed unless more than a certain number of resources, that is,more than 51% of all resources, are invested.

In order to generate a block, PoW requires a unique hash value that canbe found only by randomly inputting a nonce value. Here, in order tofind such a hash value, it is necessary to invest an excessive amount ofresources, such as computing power. Such excessive power consumptioncauses an environmental problem and an economic problem; that is,electricity rates may be higher than the reward for mining (the rewardfor mining <electricity rates). This is referred to as ‘meaninglessenergy consumption’. Also, PoW requires a specific computationalcapability. Special chips into which computational capabilities areintegrated have emerged, and the problem of the gap between those whocan afford such special chips and those who cannot may be caused interms of monetary economy. When computational capabilities are united bya minority, a centralization problem may occur. This is monopolizationby a minority. Also, in the case of bitcoin, the number of blocks islimited to twenty one million, which causes an inflation problem. Also,bitcoin may be provided as a source of illegal money or crime money anda means of tax evasion.

The concept and characteristics of Proof-of-Stake (PoS) will bedescribed below. PoS adopts a method in which a node proves itself byshowing an ownership stake. PoS is configured such that the probabilitythat each node generates a block is proportional to the stake of tokensowned by the node. When a stake of tokens is assumed to be resources tobe invested, PoS may be regarded as a kind of PoW. The algorithm of PoSmay be represented as ‘PoW using a digest’. When it is compared withPoW, PoS consumes little energy and prevents integration of resources.

In the case of PoS, a node having a larger stake of tokens is moreadvantageous in generating a block. Accordingly, with regard to blockgeneration, a centralization problem may be caused. Also, respectivenodes show a tendency to merely collect tokens without consuming tokens.As an alternative thereto, “Proof of Stake Velocity”, which decreasesthe valuation of old unused tokens, is proposed. Also, in the case ofPoS, a ‘Nothing at Stake’ problem may be caused because the requiredresource costs are very cheap. This problem is caused when a fork takesplace. When a chain forks, the size of the stake owned by each node isthe same for both chains. In this case, because nodes are able to buildblocks on both chains thanks to the inexpensive resource costs, thenodes do not try to resolve the fork. Conversely, a node maydeliberately attempt a fork because the node may bet on both chains.

For example, when a genesis block, which is the first block of ablockchain, is generated, the person who initiates the system has a 100%stake therein at that time, and he or she may generate all of the blocksover and over again. Also, as long as each node has a stake, the nodemay generate blocks again from the block generated by itself.Accordingly, it is impossible to prevent forgery and falsification usingonly PoS. Also, due to the low cost of generating a block, it ispossible to trace even old blocks and forge the entire chain.

In summary, a blockchain is configured in order to verify the validityof blocks in the process of chaining the blocks in the order in whichthe blocks are generated, thereby preventing forgery and falsificationof information. However, PoW and PoS, which are representativedistributed algorithms, have limitations due to the above-describedproblems. Furthermore, hash power controlled by a small number of minersor those who have a large stake of tokens may cause a centralizationproblem. In the case of PoW, a node having high computational capabilitytakes the initiative in distributed consensus. In the case of PoS, thosewho have a large stake of tokens have an advantage. Accordingly, a newdistributed consensus algorithm for transparently granting permission togenerate a block and guaranteeing the legitimacy of all transactions isrequired.

A method for selecting consensus nodes and a method and apparatus forgenerating a blockchain using the same according to an embodiment of thepresent invention applies a distributed consensus algorithm based onunpredictable selection of subjects of distributed consensus, wherebythe limitations as to scalability and security of the existing PoW andPoS algorithms of a blockchain may be overcome.

The distributed consensus algorithm according to an embodiment of thepresent invention may be implemented such that resource consumption isminimized by making only some nodes participate in generating blocks,such that the nodes to obtain permissions to generate a block areselected in an unpredictable manner and the selected nodesprobabilistically represent all of the nodes, such that more than acertain number of nodes are stably secured through selection, and suchthat a fork is prevented from being formed in a blockchain. Also, thedistributed consensus algorithm according to an embodiment of thepresent invention is applicable to public and private blockchains andprevents a ledger from being arbitrarily falsified after a block islocked.

The distributed consensus algorithm according to an embodiment of thepresent invention may be implement to realize Proof-of-Nonce (PoN) inorder to provide a lightweight distributed consensus mechanism,scalability, and security.

FIG. 1 is a flowchart that shows a method for selecting candidate nodesto generate a block in a distributed consensus algorithm according to anembodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, PoN may selectcandidate nodes to generate a block using the following method.

Each participation node may digitally sign the hash value of theprevious block with the private key thereof. Here, the hash value (hd)of the previous block may be the head hash value of the previous block(SI 10).

Pre_blk_sign=sign(Key_private)(pre_hash)

Because the hash value of the previous block (pre_hash) is digitallysigned (Pre_blk_sign) with the private key (Key_private) of theparticipation node, other nodes are not able to predict whether theparticipation node will gain permission to generate a block. Becausenone of the nodes know the private keys (Key_private) of other nodes, itis impossible to predict the result of the digital signature. In anembodiment, the node that gains permission to generate a candidate blockpresents the digital signature thereof along with the fact that the nodehas gained permission, whereby other nodes may verify the fact that thenode has gained the permission.

In an embodiment, in order for nodes to become candidates for generatinga block, the nodes are required to register themselves in a node pool.When nodes register themselves in the pool, as long as the condition forregistration is strongly controlled, the blockchain may be used as aprivate blockchain. Meanwhile, when all of the nodes participating inthe blockchain are allowed to register themselves in the pool, the poolmay be used for a public blockchain.

The result of the digital signature (Pre_blk_sign) of each participationnode may be processed so as to have a uniform distributioncharacteristic. For example, the digital signature (Pre_blk_sign) ishashed as shown below, whereby a nonce (key) may be generated.

key=hash(Pre_blk_sign)

Here, the value of the key has a uniform distribution characteristic dueto the characteristic of a hash. Also, in order for the key to have sucha characteristic, the key may be implemented using the hash value of theprevious block and the hash value of a value acquired from a noncechain.

In an embodiment, a portion of the generated key (e.g. 32 bits of thekey data) may be used as a coupon. In an embodiment, the coupon, whichis acquired by selecting a portion of the key value, also has a uniformdistribution characteristic. In an embodiment, the coupon may be thevalue acquired by hashing the digital signature value (sign(pre_block,pri_key)) and the hash value (hd) of the previous block. In anotherembodiment, the coupon may be the value acquired by hashing the noncechain value (nonce_chain( )) and the hash value (hd) of the previousblock (S120).

When a specific condition is satisfied as the result of comparison ofthe coupon of a node with an arbitrary threshold value (THD), the nodeis eligible to serve as a candidate for generating a block at step S130.When the specific condition is satisfied, it may be represented as‘pass’. Here, the probability p that the node is selected as thecandidate may be determined by comparing the coupon with the thresholdvalue. Conversely, when the specific condition is not satisfied, it maybe represented as ‘fail’. Here, the probability of ‘fail’ becomes (1-p).Based on the two comparison results, the distribution of the probabilitythat K nodes are selected from a total of N nodes will follow a binomialdistribution, of which the mean and the variance are Np and Np(1-p),respectively. When N is sufficiently large in a binomial distribution,the distribution of the probability that K nodes are selected from atotal of N nodes will converge to a normal distribution, of which themean and the variance are the mean and variance of the binomialdistribution, based on a central limit theorem. Accordingly, some nodesthat probabilistically represent all of the nodes may be selected. Whenthe mean of the nodes that are eligible to serve as candidates iscontrolled, stable nodes may be continuously selected using thecumulative distribution function of a normal distribution.

The node that gains permission to generate a candidate block may recorda distance, which is a coupon value or the result of an operationperformed on the coupon value and the threshold value (e.g., a distancetherebetween), a digital signature for checking whether the distance islegitimately issued, and the like in a candidate block and transmit thecandidate block to other nodes at step S140.

According to the above-described method for selecting candidate nodes,resource consumption may be minimized because only some nodesparticipate in generating a block, the nodes to gain permission togenerate a block may be selected in an unpredictable manner, theselected nodes may probabilistically represent all of the nodes, andmore than a certain number of nodes may be stably secured throughselection.

Meanwhile, a new distributed consensus algorithm (PoN) according to anembodiment of the present invention may prevent a fork from occurring ina blockchain and prevent a ledger from being arbitrarily falsified aftera block is locked. Also, the new distributed consensus algorithm may beapplied to both public and private blockchains.

FIG. 2 is a view that conceptually shows the operation of a distributedconsensus algorithm according to an embodiment of the present invention.Referring to FIG. 2, the operation of the distributed consensusalgorithm may proceed as follows.

As described above, based on the participation nodenode selectionscheme, first candidate blocks may be generated. When one of thegenerated first candidate blocks is locked, a node corresponding theretomay operate as the master node of the first block ({circle around (1)}).In an embodiment, when the first master node is selected, the masternode of the first block (N−1 Block) announces the number of nodes thatgenerated the first candidate blocks and the distances presented by therespective nodes, whereby the number of nodes may be used as a parameterof a vote for a second block.

In an embodiment, the hash value of the block generated by the masternode of the first block may be used as a previous-block hash value forgenerating second candidate blocks. Here, through the operationdescribed in the method for selecting candidate nodes for generating ablock, each node may calculate whether the node is able to gainpermission to generate a second candidate block by comparing the couponthereof with a threshold value ({circle around (2)}).

The node that gains permission to generate a second candidate block maygenerate a candidate block and distribute the same to all of the nodes({circle around (3)}).

Each of the nodes that generated the first candidate blocks transmitsone or more distances, included in the blocks received from the secondcandidate nodes, to the first master node, thereby participating in thevote ({circle around (4)}).

In the result of the vote taken by the nodes that generated the firstcandidate blocks, when it is determined that more than a certainpercentage of the nodes (e.g., a majority or ⅔ of the nodes) approve theminimum (or maximum) distance, which is extracted by sorting thedistances, the first master node may transmit the second candidate blockthat presents the corresponding distance to all of the nodes in order tolock the second candidate block as a second block (that is, to finallygenerate the second block) ({circle around (5)}).

Here, when the second block (N block) is locked, the above-describedprocesses are repeated for a third block, whereby a blockchain may becompleted.

The distributed consensus algorithm (PoN) according to an embodiment ofthe present invention is configured such that the first master nodeselects the second master node based on the result of a vote taken bythe nodes generating the first candidate blocks, whereby a consensusmechanism in which a fork does not occur may be provided.

Also, in the distributed consensus algorithm (PoN) according to anembodiment of the present invention, after a master node is selected, ablock is locked in order to prevent a vote for changing the master node,whereby it is impossible to tamper with a ledger.

Also, the distributed consensus algorithm (PoN) according to anembodiment of the present invention may be applied to a privateblockchain when the nodes allowed to participate in generating candidateblocks are selected in advance, and may be applied to a publicblockchain when any node can participate in generating candidate blocks.

Also, in the distributed consensus algorithm (PoN) according to anembodiment of the present invention, excessive resource consumption, asin PoW, is not caused.

Also, in the distributed consensus algorithm (PoN) according to anembodiment of the present invention, because the nodes to participate inblock update are determined whenever a block is generated, it isimpossible to predict the nodes and attack the same.

Also, the distributed consensus algorithm (PoN) according to anembodiment of the present invention selects the majority opinion of thenodes that generated a previous block through a vote, thereby overcomingthe disadvantage of PoS, in which a node having more resources hasexclusive permission for block update.

Also, in the distributed consensus algorithm (PoN) according to anembodiment of the present invention, because the process of locking asecond block is determined by the first candidate nodes, illegaltransactions, such as double spending and the like, may be prevented.

Also, the distributed consensus algorithm (PoN) according to anembodiment of the present invention may be applied in common to aprivate blockchain and a public blockchain by managing the nodesparticipating in generating candidate blocks.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart that shows a method for generating a blockchainaccording to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIGS.1 to 3, the method for generating a blockchain may proceed as follows.

Using the block generated by a first master node and the digitalsignatures of the nodes registered in a pool or a nonce calculated usinga value acquired from a nonce chain, second candidate nodes forgenerating a second block may be selected at step S210. For example,based on the candidate node selection scheme described with reference toFIG. 1, the second candidate nodes may be selected from among all of thenodes.

Then, the first master node may lock a second master block, amongcandidate blocks that are generated in the second candidate nodes, asthe result of a vote taken by the first candidate nodes at step S220.

In an embodiment, based on the result of the vote taken by the nodesthat generated the first candidate blocks, the first master node maylock the second candidate block that presents the minimum (or maximum)distance, approved by more than a certain percentage of the nodes (e.g.,a majority or ⅔ of the nodes), as the second master block.

In an embodiment, the first master node may lock the second masterblock.

In an embodiment, the nodes generating the first candidate blocks,rather than all of the nodes, may participate in the vote only for thesecond candidate block.

In an embodiment, when the nodes selected as the nodes to generatecandidate blocks are shared using a pool, if only predetermined nodesare registered in the pool, the consensus node selection scheme may beused as a private consensus mechanism. In another embodiment, if all ofthe participation nodes can be registered in the pool, the consensusnode selection scheme may be used as a public consensus mechanism. Thatis, the consensus node selection scheme according to the presentinvention may be used in common for private and public consensusmechanisms.

In an embodiment, the node generating the first master block may triggeran event for locking a second master block.

In an embodiment, when whether a node is eligible to serve as acandidate for generating a second block is determined, the asymmetricprivate key of the node or a value acquired from a nonce chain is used,whereby each node may not predict whether another node will gainpermission to become a candidate.

In an embodiment, in order to determine whether each node is eligible toserve as a candidate for generating a second block, the coupon of thenode is compared with a threshold value. Based on the comparison result,the respective nodes may be classified into two or more groups. In anembodiment, the two or more groups may be divided into a ‘pass’ groupand a ‘fail’ group. The two groups may have a binomial distributioncharacteristic. In an embodiment, the mean and variance of the nodes tobe selected may be calculated based on a specific probabilitydistribution.

In an embodiment, when it generates a candidate block, each of the nodesthat gain permission to generate a second candidate block announces adistance, which is calculated using the acquired coupon and thethreshold, whereby the nodes that generated the first candidate blocksmay sort the distances according to the values thereof.

In an embodiment, the nodes that generated the first candidate blocksmay transmit one or more distances of the second candidate blocks,collected by themselves, to the first master node.

In an embodiment, when the first master node selects the second masternode based on the result of a vote taken by the nodes that generated thefirst candidate blocks, the first master node may announce the number ofnodes generating second candidate blocks and the distance values to allof the nodes. In an embodiment, the number of nodes that generate thesecond candidate blocks, announced by the first master node, may be usedas a population parameter of the vote for the second block. In anembodiment, the sorted distance values of the second candidate blocks,announced by the first master node, may be used for the vote.

Based on an embodiment, some or all of the steps and/or operations maybe implemented or performed using one or more processors executinginstructions, programs, interactive data structures, and client and/orserver components stored in one or more nonvolatile computer-readablestorage media.

FIG. 4 is an exemplary view that shows an apparatus 1000 for generatinga blockchain according to an embodiment of the present invention.Referring to FIG. 4, the apparatus 1000 for generating a blockchain mayinclude at least one processor 1100, a network interface 1200, memory1300, a display 1400, and input/output devices 1500.

The processor 1100 may include at least one of the devices describedwith reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, or may be implemented using at least oneof the methods described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. The processor1100 may execute instructions in order to unpredictably select the nodeto participate in the generation and update of a block through a digitalsignature created using the previous block and the private key of thenode, to prevent a certain node from having exclusive permissions bylocking a second block based on the result of a vote taken by the nodesthat generated the first candidate blocks, and to prevent illegaltransactions, such as double spending and the like, in such a way thatthe master node of the first block selects the master node of a secondblock after checking the content digitally signed with the private keysof the nodes.

The processor 1100 may run programs and control the apparatus 1000 forgenerating a blockchain. The apparatus 1000 for generating a blockchainmay be connected with an external device (e.g., a personal computer or anetwork) and exchange data therewith via the I/O devices 1500. Theapparatus 1000 for generating a blockchain may be any of various typesof electronic systems, including mobile devices such as a mobile phone,a smartphone, a PDA, a tablet PC, a laptop, and the like, computingdevices such as a PC, a tablet PC, a netbook, and the like, andelectronic devices such as a TV, a smart TV, a security device for gatecontrol, and the like.

As described in FIG. 4, the processor 1100 may be implemented to run ablock-generating unit, a blockchain-controlling unit, ablock-propagating unit, and a block-verifying unit using program code.The block-generating unit may generate a new block that is necessary fortransaction records. The blockchain-controlling unit may control the newblock so as to be added to the blockchain thereof using theabove-described method for generating a blockchain, specifically usingthe distributed consensus node selection scheme. The block-propagatingunit may propagate the new block over the network in order to verify thevalidity of the new block to be added to the blockchain. Theblock-verifying unit may receive a block generated in another node inthe network and verify the validity of the received block.

The network interface 1200 may be implemented so as to communicate withan external network using any of various wired/wireless methods.

The memory 1300 may store computer-readable instructions. The processor1100 may perform the above-described operations by executing theinstructions stored in the memory 1300. The memory 1300 may be volatileor nonvolatile memory.

The memory 1300 may include a storage device in order to store user'sdata. The storage device may be an embedded multimedia card (eMMC), asolid-state drive (SSD), universal flash storage (UFS), or the like. Thestorage device may include at least one nonvolatile memory device. Thenonvolatile memory device may be any one of NAND flash memory, VerticalNAND (VNAND), NOR flash memory, Resistive Random-Access Memory (RRAM),Phase-Change Memory (PRAM), Magnetoresistive Random-Access Memory(MRAM), Ferroelectric Random-Access Memory (FRAM), Spin-Transfer-TorqueRandom-Access Memory (STT-RAM), and the like.

The embodiments described above may be implemented through hardwarecomponents, software components, and/or a combination thereof. Forexample, the apparatus, method and components described in theembodiments may be implemented using one or more general-purposecomputers or special-purpose computers, for example, a processor, acontroller, an arithmetic logic unit (ALU), a digital signal processor,a microcomputer, a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), a programmablelogic unit (PLU), a microprocessor, and any other device capable ofexecuting instructions and responding thereto. The processing device mayrun an operating system (OS) and one or more software applicationsexecuted on the OS.

Also, the processing device may access, store, manipulate, process, andcreate data in response to the execution of the software. For theconvenience of description, the processing device is described as asingle device, but those having ordinary skill in the art willunderstand that the processing device may include multiple processingelements and/or multiple forms of processing elements. For example, theprocessing device may include multiple processors or a single processorand a single controller. Also, other processing configurations such asparallel processors may be available.

The software may include a computer program, code, instructions, or acombination thereof, and may configure a processing device to beoperated as desired, or may independently or collectively instruct theprocessing device to be operated. The software and/or data may bepermanently or temporarily embodied in a specific form of machines,components, physical equipment, virtual equipment, computer storagemedia or devices, or transmitted signal waves in order to be interpretedby a processing device or to provide instructions or data to theprocessing device. The software may be distributed across computersystems connected with each other via a network, and may be stored orrun in a distributed manner. The software and data may be stored in oneor more computer-readable storage media.

The apparatus 1000 for generating a blockchain according to anembodiment of the present invention includes at least one processor 1100and memory 1300 for storing at least one instruction executed by the atleast one processor 1100. The at least one instruction may be executedby the at least one processor 1100 such that participation nodes relatedto the generation of a first block are selected using digitalsignatures, such that the selected participation nodes participate in avote in order to lock a second master block, and such that a masternode, corresponding to the generation of the first block, locks a masterblock corresponding to the generation of the second block.

The method according to the embodiments may be implemented as programinstructions executable by various computer devices, and may be recordedin computer-readable storage media. The computer-readable storage mediamay individually or collectively include program instructions, datafiles, data structures, and the like. The program instructions recordedin the media may be specially designed and configured for theembodiment, or may be readily available and well known to computersoftware experts.

Examples of the computer-readable storage media include magnetic mediasuch as a hard disk, a floppy disk and a magnetic tape, optical mediasuch as a CD-ROM and a DVD, and magneto-optical media such as afloptical disk, ROM, RAM, flash memory, and the like, that is, ahardware device specially configured for storing and executing programinstructions. Examples of the program instructions include not onlymachine code made by a compiler but also high-level language codeexecutable by a computer using an interpreter or the like. Theabove-mentioned hardware device may be configured such that it operatesas one or more software modules in order to perform the operations ofthe embodiment, and vice-versa.

Through the method and apparatus for generating a blockchain accordingto an embodiment of the present invention, the node to participate inthe generation and update of a block may be selected in an unpredictablemanner through a digital signature created using a previous block andthe private key of the node, and a second block may be locked based onthe result of a vote taken by the nodes that generated first candidateblocks, whereby a disadvantage in which a certain node has exclusivepermission may be overcome and verification time may be significantlyreduced.

Through the method and apparatus for generating a blockchain accordingto an embodiment of the present invention, the master node of a firstblock selects the master node of a second block after checking contentthat is digitally signed with the private keys of nodes in order toguarantee the integrity of distributed ledgers, whereby illegaltransactions, such as double spending or the like, may be prevented.

According to the method and apparatus for generating a blockchainaccording to an embodiment of the present invention, excessive resourceconsumption, as in PoW, is not caused in PoN, and the disadvantage ofPoS, in which a node having more resources has exclusive permission toperform update, may be overcome.

Through the method and apparatus for generating a blockchain accordingto an embodiment of the present invention, the master node thatregisters a first block selects a second block based on the result of avote, whereby excessive resource consumption may be prevented. Also,because the master node selects the next master node, illegaltransactions, such as double spending or the like, may be prevented.

Through the method for selecting consensus nodes and the apparatus andmethod for generating a blockchain using the same according to anembodiment of the present invention, excessive use of resources, as inProof-of-Work (PoW), may be prevented.

The method for selecting consensus nodes and the apparatus and methodfor generating a blockchain using the same according to an embodiment ofthe present invention determine the nodes to participate in block updatewhenever a block is generated, whereby the nodes may be prevented frombeing predicted and attacked.

The method for selecting consensus nodes and the apparatus and methodfor generating a blockchain using the same according to an embodiment ofthe present invention select the majority opinion of the nodes thatgenerated the previous block through a vote, whereby a disadvantage inwhich a node having more resources gains exclusive permission for blockupdate, as in Proof-of-Stake (PoS), may be overcome.

The method for selecting consensus nodes and the apparatus and methodfor generating a blockchain using the same according to an embodiment ofthe present invention may prevent illegal transactions, such as doublespending and the like, because the process of locking a second block isdetermined by the nodes that approved a first block.

The method for selecting consensus nodes and an apparatus and method forgenerating a blockchain using the same according to an embodiment of thepresent invention may be applied in common to a private blockchain and apublic blockchain by managing the nodes that participate in generatingcandidate blocks.

Meanwhile, the above description is merely specific embodiments forpracticing the present invention. The present invention encompasses notonly concrete and available means but also the technical spiritcorresponding to abstract and conceptual ideas that may be used asfuture technology.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for generating a blockchain, comprising:performing a hash operation by using a value related to a previous blockand a nonce corresponding to a participation node to generate acomparison value; comparing the comparison value with a threshold value;selecting the participation node as a member of consensus nodes based onthe result of the comparison; and generating a new block of theblockchain based on a consensus among at least one of the consensusnodes.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the value related to theprevious block corresponds to a head hash value of the previous block.3. The method of claim 1, wherein the nonce is generated based on anonce chain.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the nonce chain is usedfor verifying at least one of the consensus nodes.
 5. An apparatus forgenerating a blockchain, comprising: at least one processor, and memoryconfigured to store at least one instruction executed by the at leastone processor, wherein the at least one instruction is executed by theat least one processor such that a hash operation is performed by usinga value related to a previous block and a nonce corresponding to aparticipation node to generate a comparison value, such that thecomparison value is compared with a threshold value, such that theparticipation node is selected as a member of consensus nodes based onthe result of the comparison, and such that a new block of theblockchain is generated based on a consensus among at least one of theconsensus nodes.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the nonce isgenerated based on a nonce chain and the nonce chain is used forverifying at least one of the consensus nodes.